Attachment for welding machines



Aug. 19, 4930. E, w, LITTLE 1,773,465

ATTACHMENT FOR WELDING MACHINES Filed May 27, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 19, 1930. E. w. LITTLE ATTACHMENT FOR WELDING MACHINES 4 sheets-sheet Filed May 2'7, 1929 W gwuwntov EH81. W L/TTLE.

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Aug. 19, 1930. rw LITTLE 1,773,465

ATTACHMENT FOR WELDING MACHINES LFiled May 27, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 K I gwuentoz 50E; M4 L/77'L6 Aug. 19, 1930. E.- w. LITTLE ATTACHMENT FOR WELDING MACHINES Filed May 2'7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet gwvenloz EH21. W. LITTLE:

am (life-("21 Patented Aug. 19, 1930 PATENT OFFICE EARL W. LITTLE, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA ATTACHMENT FOR WELDING MACHINES Application filed May 27, 1929. Serial No. 366,142.

This invention relates to attachments for spot welding machines and of that class adapted primarily for manufacturing wire bird cages, although it will be understood that it may be used for many other purposes and one feature of the invention is the provision of an extension and means for attaching the same to the stationary arm of the spot welding machine.

1 A further feature of the invention is the provision of means in connection with the extension for supporting and spacing the wires forming the body of the cage in position to be welded together.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for adjustably and removably mounting the wire supporting and spacing parts on the extension.

' A further feature of the invention, is the provision of means for locking the parts in their adjusted positions.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for guiding a band forming wire as it is being welded to the remainder of the cage structure.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spot welding machine with the cage forming attachment in position thereon.

Figure 2 is a detail end elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of the attachment with cage forming wires thereon ready to be welded.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view as seen along line H, Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a similar view as seen along line 55, Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View as seen along line 6($, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates a spot welding machine, which is provided with a fixed arm 2 and a movable arm 3, said arms carrying adjacent their outer ends, electrodes or welding points 4; and 5, respectively.

The arm 2, beyond the electrode 4, is preferably provided with a hub 6, onto which is threaded a tubular shaft 7, and slidably mounted on said shaft 7 is a combined forming and spacing wheel 8, adapted to receive and support a plurality of wires 9 during the welding operation. The wires 9 are passed through bores 10 in the wheel 8 and preferably rest in a horizontal position while being welded, certain of said wires 9 preferably being eng, ed by clamping screws 11 placed at inter als around the periphery of the wheel. ter the wires have been entered through the bores 10, the wheel 18 slipped onto the shaft 7 until it encounters the end of the arm 2, when a key 12 is inserted in an opening 13 in the shaft 7, thus holding the wheei from outward movement on the shaft, but permitting free rotating movement of the wheel and wires carried thereby. If desired, however, the shaft 7 may be made an integral part of the arm 2, or may be fixed rigidly to any preferred part of the machine 1.

After the wheel 8 has been properly placed on the shaft 7, a disc 1 1 is slipped onto the shaft 7, and in order to properly position the disc at prescribed points along the length of said shaft, a plurality of spaced openings 15 are formed in the shaft, with which cooperates a key 16.

The inner face of the disc 1% is preferably provided with a circular groove 17 for the reception of the outer ends of the wires 9, said groove forming a support and guide for the ends of the wires.

In order to assemble the wires 9 in cage formation and at the same time impart rigidity thereto, bands 18, preferably of wire, are disposed. around the assembled wires 9 and attached thereto, preferably by spot welding the bands to th wires, and in order to propea erl guide the section of wire forming the band 18. a guide finger 19 is rested on the band adjacent the point where the weld. is to be forms said finger having a notch 20 in the end thereof, which straddles the band and the same into position to be welded, as the wheel and wires 9 carried thereby are rotated.

The opposite end of the finger 19 is attached to a shaft 21, which is in turn mount- 20o carried by the machine 1, that the linger I operative posia pin L3 through ereoit striking against bra-c iets 22. The

dillferent positions by gilt to the shaft 21. r I l v.1 device to use, the tubular ed onto the hub 6, after which ent number of a bird cage,

- stiines agains "roduced over the end c-ved inwardly until the with the first opentl introduced into to prevent withdrawal the disc. This operends of the wires he first band 18. he disc ll beyond the wires 9 may ise, against the disc (,"ainst its 1;; 1n the he wires section of wire in ends thereof tree. id the assembled 9 then lowered until "i ireot engages the 1 direct line of the ie engaged by the u t to th wires 9. when 0 contact with ain lowered and i ttion being comaeration has been e cage structure. to substantially avoiding the possibility ll 0 such an extent t i or misplaced weld and pree abied wires i'rom being disthen released hwise through s ll inwardly end registers with nno; 15, or until the ctr 'iositioned to receive bane. when the clamping screws are ti htened, a new band placed around age structure and the welding operation ted, these operations being repeated unll bar ds have been applied.

l ie linger it) is then vung outwardly, the keys l2 and 16 removed from their respective openings and the disc 1-2 and wheel 8 then remove i from the shat the wheel 6 carrying the assembled wires vith it. "the clamp mg screws 11 are again released, when the structure may be released from the v. .iccl 8.

While the drawings show a round wire .t' rming the band 18, it will be understood iiat a liat band may 3e used, or in tact any term of band, subyect to being spot welded, may be used. it will likewise he seen that the be so arrangid that the d at any suitable point in t is evident thatmany made in the various deting from the scope of hcin understood that it a 'estricted to the particudescribed.

in lvhat I claim is:

1. A means for supporting individual wires of substantially uniform lengths in position to be welded into cage formation comprising a wheel like structure having a pluralitj, of bores through which said wires e1;- tend, means for guiding a wire to be welded to the wheel carried wires, and means adapted to be forced against one end oi? said vh el ca 'ried wires for adjusting them endwise.

2. A. means for supporuig wires cut into individual lengths in p05 tion to be welded into cage formation, comprising a wheel lil-Le structure having a plurality of bores therethrough for the r ception of wiles means adapted to be forced against the ends of said wires for adjusting them endwise, means tor locking certain of said wires to said wheel like structure after each endwise adjustment of the wires, means for guiding a band torming member in position to l e welded to Stltl wires and means for rotatably mounting said wheel like structure, whereby the wires may be successively brought to position to be welded with the oand forming member.

3. A means for supporting a plurality of wires in position to be welded into cage :tormation, comprising a otating wheel of lixed diameter and having a plurality of spaced bores to receive and support wires, means for guiding a band forming member in position to be welded to said wires, and means for pivotally mounting said guiding means whereby it may be moved into or out of operative position.

l. Means for supporting a plurality of Wires in position to be Welded into cage formation, comprising the combination with one arm of a Welding machine, and an exteriorly threaded hub attached thereto, of a shaft attached to said hub, and means on the shaft for carrying a plurality of Wires in position to be successively moved into Welding position.

5. Means for supporting a plurality of Wires cut in lengths for forming a cage structure, comprising a support, a combined forming and spacing wheel rotatable on said support, said Wheel having a plurality of bores therethrough adjacent its peripheral edge,

, cage forming Wires cut in lengths and adapted to be entered through said bores, band forming Wires adapted to be attached at intervals to said first Wires for assembling said Wires in cage formation, and electrodes positioned to engage and Weld said Wires immediately in advance of said Wheel, whereby said wires will be held against distortion during the Welding operation.

6. Means for supporting a plurality of Wires cut in cage forming lengths, comprising a support, a combined forming and spacing Wheel removably attached to said sup port, and means slidable upon said support adapted to engage one end of said Wires for successively adjusting said Wires lengthwise.

7. Means for supporting a plurality of Wires cut in lengths for forming a cage, comprising a support, a Wheel removably attached to said support, said Wheel having a plurality of spaced bores for the reception of said Wires, a disc adapted to be moved lengthwise of said support for spacing the Wires lengthwise through said Wheel, and means for determining the various positions of said disc on said support.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on this the 22d day of May, 1929, A. D.

EARL WV. LITTLE. 

